Come January and all roads lead to the World Economic Forum held each year in the Swiss mountain city of Davos. Arguably the most influential global platform where decisions pertaining to finance, economics, technology etc are taken by world leaders, CEOs, heads of state and the like, the World Economic Forum is indeed a symbol of global power and cooperation.
But beyond this summit, did you know that Davos is a typical Swiss town replete with pristine beauty and utterly awe-inspiring landscapes? Located in the canton of Graubünden in eastern Switzerland, Davos is perched at an altitude of over 5000 feet above sea level making it the highest city in Europe. It is located about 150 km from Zurich. With a kaleidoscope of sights spanning nature, architecture and history, there is plenty to do and see while in the mountain city. Read on to find out more:
Church of St. Johann
In 1289 twelve families from Valais settled in Davos and working together, they built a church dedicated to John the Baptist. The small tower still stands as a reminder of this. Since then the church whose tower was almost 72 meters was destroyed by fire and has been subsequently rebuilt. In 1909, the church was expanded from 200 to 800 seats, and in 2009, the interior was renovated. This included the restoration of the “Paradise” Giacometti painting from 1928.
Davos Town Hall
The town hall has been the political centre of the municipality of Davos for over 700 years. It achieved its greatest historical importance after the creation of the Zehngerichtenbund or federation of the ten courts in 1436. At the time, Davos was the capital of this federation, and the town hall was the seat of justice. For
nearly 400 years, the town hall was one of the most important political centres of Graubünden. The first town hall building from the 13th century was completely destroyed by fire in 1559. Since its reconstruction in 1564, the building has been repeatedly altered. Its stark cubic shape dates back to 1930.
Kurpark
A serene oasis nestled in the centre of Davos, Kurpark is a tranquil park enveloped by greenery all around. It is a great place to take a stroll, host a picnic or meet up with friends. There are lovely walking trails, manicured paths and a host of art installations and sculptures.
Admire Iconic and Heritage Buildings
Take a stroll along Davos town and there is never a dearth of heritage structures which are a haven for architecture lovers. Case in point is the Davos Library with its intricately painted facade which is located close to Postplatz.
And then there are houses that invoke vintage vibes apart from the iconic Davos Congress building as well as the zondacrypto Arena which is an indoor arena that is a hub hosting multiple sporting events including ice hockey.
Trekking Trails
Apart from spending time near the Davos Lake, the town is a haven for adventure junkies with hikes for every kind of travellers. There is close to 700 km of signposted hiking trails spanning all ranges of diffculty levels. Stunning vistas, alpine flowers, beautiful mountain lakes and magnificent Alpine views are just some of the add ons! The mountain ridge hike from Mount Jakobshorn to Mount Tällihorn and the hike to the Jöriseen lakes are some of the most popular routes.
Davos also forms for a perfect day trip from Zurich.
